Orange County Legislature balance linked to single race

Monroe — Only one seat on the 21-member Orange County Legislature is up for grabs on Nov. 6, but it's a doozy.

Chris McKenna

Monroe — Only one seat on the 21-member Orange County Legislature is up for grabs on Nov. 6, but it's a doozy.

Republican Greg Townsend, Democrat Myrna Kemnitz and independent Gary DeFilippis are competing in a race that will determine which party — if any — controls the county Legislature for the next two years.

Democrats have a shot at winning a majority for the first time in the Legislature's 37-year history — and becoming a more powerful foil for Republican County Executive Ed Diana.

The other possible outcome is a chamber with no clear majority and either one or two independent lawmakers holding critical swing votes on contentious issues.

Townsend has held the 7th Legislative District seat for eight months, having been appointed to replace the late Spencer McLaughlin. If Townsend wins, Republicans and Democrats stay tied at 10 members apiece, with one independent. If Kemnitz prevails, Democrats gain an 11-9 edge.

DeFilippis is a registered Republican, but he's running on the Protect Monroe ballot line. If he wins, the Legislature will have 10 Democrats, nine Republicans and two independents.

Listing his top priorities, Townsend hopes to foster affordable housing for senior citizens and empty-nesters. He touts his political experience, including 10 years on the Monroe Village Board.

"I've been in politics before," he said. "I know how to work within the confines of the municipal system, the gives and takes that have to take place."

Kemnitz wants to push for a larger and earlier role for the Legislature in the annual budget process. She proposes a bipartisan committee to work with the county executive before the budget is released on Oct. 1.

"How would you feel if somebody put a 4-pound document on your desk and said, 'You've got one month to read it and work on it'?" she asked.

The closest thing to a campaign issue is the influence of Kiryas Joel, which is outside the district.

DeFilippis argues that his opponents are linked through their parties to the leaders of the village's two major voting blocs. He presents himself as the only candidate with no such connections.

"I'm basically running to give people a choice," he said. "That's all I'm in this for."

Both Townsend and Kemnitz denied Kiryas Joel ties.

DeFilippis, 55, retired last month after 19 years as Harriman police chief. He began his 33-year career in law enforcement as a Greenwood Lake patrolman. Kemnitz, 66, has worked in the New York City public school system as a teacher and administrator for 41 years. She is currently a data specialist. Townsend, 56, is a sales manager in the Middletown office of the insurance company Marshall & Sterling.